Hammersmith Election Line-up Starts to Take Shape

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Joyce Onstad will stand for Lib Dems against sitting MP Andy Slaughter

The line-up of candidates standing in the upcoming General Election in the constituency of Hammersmith is beginning to take shape.

Labour's Andy Slaughter, who has been the local MP since 2010, has formally announced he is standing once again on 8 June.

He said on his regular blog: "I have been re-selected as the Labour candidate for Hammersmith and cleared my diary so I can spend every day out talking and listening to people in Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham. "

Afer winning the seat in the 2010 General Election, he was re-elected as Member of Parliament for Hammersmith in 2015, gaining 50% of the vote - up from 43.85% in the previous election.

He campaigned strongly for a Remain vote in last year's referendum, and after the result was announced, tweeted @hammersmithandy that he was "very proud" that 70% of constituents in Hammersmith and Fulham had voted in favour of remaining in the EU.

Mr Slaughter, who also serves on Labour's front bench as Shadow Minister for London and Shadow Minister for Housing, went to defy three line whips issued by leader Jeremy Corbyn on two occasions to vote against the Government's Brexit Bill and the triggering of Article 50.

He gave his reasons in a letter to constituents, saying: " I have always thought my first loyalty is to my constituents and thousands have lobbied me to vote against the trigger. I also represent - though they could not vote in the Referendum or General Election - the 15% of Hammersmith residents who are citizens of other EU states and who are being shamefully held as ransom by Theresa May's Government."

You can read the letter in full here.

The second candidate to announce she is standing in Hammersmith is Joyce Onstad, representing the Liberal Democrats.

The H&F Lib Dems website says: "Joyce entered politics after many years in International Development to fight for structural change in society. She is passionate about fairness, civil liberties, inclusive economic growth, protecting the environment and human rights.

"Joyce, who has a Master’s of Science in Urban Development Planning from University College London, worked for international development organisations such as UNDP and ActionAid, living in a variety of countries such as France, South Africa and the Netherlands.

"She founded a strategic leadership consultancy business on her return to London, working with organisations and business leaders from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Kenya, while volunteering in various local non-profit organisations such as Family Friends in Hammersmith and serving as a Trustee for an AIDS charity.

"Joyce has been involved in many campaigns, including the fight to remain in the EU, and believes Hammersmith’s interests are best served by close ties to Europe.

"Joyce has a vision of a Liberal Hammersmith where the values of equality, fairness, freedom and opportunities for all govern every decision that is taken. A place where businesses prosper, the environment is protected, communities are cohesive and everyone feels that they have a stake in their society."

UK Polling Report has described Hammersmith as a "semi marginal" seat, and lists it among 82 seats which could change hands through a 10% swing to the Tories.

In the 2015 General Election, the Conservative candidate Charlie Dewhirst came second, with 36.41% of the vote. The party has not yet announced if he will stand again.

Here is the full result of the 2015 election.

Name:		Party	Votes	% share
	AKAN David Recep	Green Party	2,105	4.39
	BRENNAN Stephen Patrick	-	82	0.17
	DEWHIRST Charlie	Conservative	17,463	36.41
	SCOTT Millicent Ragnhild Helen	Liberal Democrat	2,224	4.64
	SLAUGHTER Andy	Labour	23,981	50.00
	WOOD Richard	UK Independence Party (UKIP)	2,105	4.39

 

April 25, 2017